Holiday Decorating for Businesses - The Ultimate Guide

As Christmas arrives, we should think about sharing joy with people beyond our loved ones. That is, our customers, our employees, our guests at work, etc.
 
The best way to do so is by creating a warm, cheerful atmosphere at your place of business. As we decorate our homes—we should also consider adding the festive vibe to our workspaces.
 
Think of it this way: someone walks out into the market to look for a holiday essential. There are two shops; the one on the left is not decorated for the holidays, with employees in non-holiday clothing just walking around, looking bored. The shop on the right is filled with trees, garlands, and wreaths. There’s holiday music, and the store is filled with that nostalgic holiday-type smell. Which one is the person most likely to enter?

 

There you have your answer 😊
 
Beyond the fact that you can attract more customers to your store, holiday decorating makes all the difference for several other reasons. Let’s talk about these—and proceed to all the fun ways that you can use to decorate your business for the holidays!

 

Why Holiday Decorating Matters for Your Business 

While it may seem like it’s the best fit for retail stores—that’s far from the truth. All businesses can benefit from Christmas decor, whether it’s a restaurant, hotel, firm, etc. This is because the right decor makes your business the destination spot. You know, the go-to during the holiday season.
 
Holiday decorations work on a personal level for each shopper. They often encourage them to spend more time at your place, which in turn encourages sales. Plus, holiday decor is often something the local media likes to cover. That can mean instant coverage for your business.
 
And, of course, holiday cheer goes just beyond the customers. Holiday decorating can put your employees in a better mood. And happy employees = happy customers! When this happens, you can often get more sales, and your customers will be more likely to recommend your business to their friends.

 

How to Decorate Your Business for the Holidays

Planning holiday decor for your business will need careful planning. This helps make sure you have your decorations up on time—and they’re creating an atmosphere that pleases a large group of people.

 

Start With a Theme

When decorating at home, you’d simply think of a theme that you—or your partner—love. The case is a little different when it comes to businesses. You want to decide on a theme that reflects your brand’s personality. And first… you have to decide, what is your brand’s personality?
 
Let’s understand this with some examples.
 

• Luxury jewellery store: Elegant gold and silver decor
• Tech startup: Modern and futuristic theme
• Family-oriented business: Pinecones, plaid patterns, and warm lighting
• Office: Metallic/muted theme
• Toy store: Playful, bright colors and oversized ornaments

 

Focus on the Storefront

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Our example of the two stores explains how important decor is to attract customers. And, when it comes to attracting customers, the storefront makes all the difference. So, that’s where you should put a big chunk of your effort.
 
For retail stores, you will mostly be using a window display. In contrast, for an office space, you can hang a wreath on the office door and continue decor into the reception area. (We love potted poinsettias placed on nesting plant stands!).
 
Other ideas to spruce up your forefront are:
 

• Incorporate a digital sign installation on the storefront window. Nothing catches the eye like a moving screen!
• Use chalk paint to draw up a fun message. Something that will invite the customers in. For example, if it’s cold outdoors, you can display “Come in, it’s warm inside!”.
• Hang a garland around the perimeter of your window. This is your chance to go all creative (like marshmallows, candy canes, etc.).
• Display some wrapped gift boxes. Stacking them can add height to your decor. You can also achieve a similar look with wooden crates (these are especially great for rustic decor).
• Create a tree out of your products. For example, if you specialize in sports equipment, you can create a small tree out of skis.
• If you’re a retailer, dress your mannequins in holiday gear. Don’t forget to create a festive backdrop for them.

Decorate Communal Areas

 

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The shared spaces in your business is where people/employees will gather, so you want to make sure you decorate these.

 

For offices…

Focus on break rooms, meeting rooms, and lobbies. 

• Add some ornaments to desk. COCO la Vita Luxury Leather Tray Desktop Organizers are a great idea if you’re looking for some new organizers in your office space!
• Mount festive decor on your bulletin boards.
• If you’re looking to go the extra mile for your employees, set up a small hot cocoa station with festive mugs. They’ll love it!

For retail spaces…

• Decorate the shelving with garlands.
• Add scent diffusers. Aromas like peppermint and cinnamon give your customers that nostalgic holiday feel.
• Play cheerful holiday music. This one’s free! 😉

 

Use Plants… Plenty of Them

 

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Of course! We love mini potted evergreens, such as Norfolk Island Pines. Bonus points if you decorate them with mini ornaments. Festive planters are also a great idea—and no, we don’t mean a red Christmas-themed planter. We mean a contemporary planter box decked with some holiday-inspired plants/decor. For inspo—we’ve set one up above!
 
One cool way to use this planter is as a divider. If your business has open plan spaces, you can use one (or more) of these planters to delineate different places in a subtle way.
 

Showcase Your Brand 

This is one of the easiest ways to align your holiday decor with your brand. For example, if your brand’s colors are blue and white, a Winter Wonderland theme will do. Think icy blues and snowflakes. If your brand features bold colors—like yellows and reds—a vintage holiday theme will be a good idea.
 
To maintain a festive feel, you want to pair your brand colors with the classic holiday tones (gold, silver, green, etc.).

 

Involve Your Team

 

 
Holiday decorating can  actually make for a great team-building activity. If work hours allow, set aside a day for employees to help decorate the space. This makes sure everyone feels included in the holiday spirit + it saves time 😉
 

Take the Opportunity to Be Sustainable  

Even while decorating for the holidays in our workspaces, we don’t want to ignore our responsibilities towards the Earth. Take this as an opportunity to switch out any incandescent bulbs you may have with more energy-efficient lighting. Also,reusable decorations—like a plant/planter that will last you beyond Christmas—can make sure you’re not “over-purchasing”. (A 3-tier collapsible plant stand set is one great pick!).

 

Use Your Business Social Media

 
Post photos of your holiday displays on your social media channels. Some hashtag ideas could be #HolidayDecor and #FestiveBusiness. You can also go the extra mile by setting up a Santa’s corner in your retail business.  Here, visitors can take selfies and post them on their social media accounts tagging your business for a chance to win 😊